Collection and evaluation of almond germplasm in Piemonte

The almond occurs in the hills of Piemonte, northwest Italy, in particular microclimates on calcareous soils. The almond is rarely grown in specialized orchards, but is often seen as an isolated tree at the margins of cultivated fields. This very modest presence of almond in Piemonte is constituted by a seedling population and may be an important germplasm resource for nut quality traits and for cold hardiness genes present in certain genotypes. This work, which attempts to rescue this germplasm, to shed some light on the genetic traits useful in breeding, and to identify interesting clones for subsequent plantings, has allowed for the recovery of 70 accessions from the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, Cuneo and Torino. The accessions are now under observation at the Experimental Farm of the Dipartimento di Colture Arboree.